TN announces sops worth Rs 40 crore for delta farmers

The Tamil Nadu government today announced sops worth Rs 40 crore for farmers in the state's Cauvery delta region.

Under this, the state government would provide three-phased power supply for 12 hours, aid efforts for increased mechanisation and promote the use of organic fertilisers. The respective state government departments and cooperative unions would be engaged for the purpose.

Announcing them, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa said farmers need not pay for any of these efforts aimed at enhancing the acreage of Kuruvai plantation crops and for improving the soil quality.

Meanwhile, the state government said it would not be able to release water from the Mettur dam for Kuruvai crops in the Cauvery delta districts on June 12 due to lower storage levels.

The water level in the dam, which caters to the irrigation needs of the Cauvery delta districts, has dropped to 72.64 feet, as against the total storage capacity of 120 feet.

Even if the Karnataka government releases Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water for June as per a Tribunal's final award, the storage would still be at 79 feet. However, discharge is possible if the storage level touches 90 feet.

"Therefore, water cannot be released for Kuruvai (short-term) crops on June 12," a state government release stated.

However, state government is hopeful the rise in groundwater level would help offset any major impact on crops.

"With excess summer rainfall, groundwater level has increased significantly," said the chief minister in a statement.